Kriss SDP Sphinx

[007_Bond]

Ok someone talk to me about this thing. I?ve heard it?s an amazing and fine tuned CZ variant. I?ve also heard a few negatives:

1.) picky on Ammo
2.) not a lot of aftermarket support
3.) if you need it fixed you gotta send it to manufacturer
4.) quality control issues

Did they lose quality and value after they stopped being made is SWISS?

Tell me if I should or should not jump on one. $800-ish seems the current going price.

[bang bang]

Ok someone talk to me about this thing. I?ve heard it?s an amazing and fine tuned CZ variant. I?ve also heard a few negatives:

how many things have you come across that is 100% positive.??

1.) picky on Ammo

Dont know.  Ive only shot maybe 3 brands/types of ammo through mine.  I usually shoot FMJs through my autoloaders since its what i do.  Havent shot any of the various HPs through mine, yet.

In the ammo i have shot through mine, no issues, so far.

2.) not a lot of aftermarket support

Dont know.  Im the type that leaves things as-is.  Dont care for frilly dresses on my toys.  Just functional.  Scope or glass on my handguns?  nope.  Various style slights, nope.  Not needed for me.

My toys are for SD or punching paper without any timer or score, just for fun.

3.) if you need it fixed you gotta send it to manufacturer

Well, i would want to give them the first crack at it.  Again, its how i do things. 

What i noticed about things like this is that if the mfg doesnt know it has an issues (such as not sending it bacK) how can they fix it or decide to do a recall? 

I give them the first shot at making it right. Then if they dont or cant, then im considering option #2.

4.) quality control issues

I havent heard anything about this.  But the way i see things, they are made by man and man can be not perfect when it comes to such things.   There is also the saying of Garbage IN = Garbage OUT.  So if someone isnt paying attention to the work at hand, i can see some issues making it out of the factory.

Did they lose quality and value after they stopped being made is SWISS?

Can you predict the future?  Not sure on this. It will depend on how many were made in both places and the demand.  If you want an "investment" then there are better investments out there.

There maybe more $$$ reasons for mfg it in some other country.  IF you notice that CZ had done the same.

sometimes a government will dictate things like mfg a thing or part of it in their country, if you want their $$$. 

Tell me if I should or should not jump on one. $800-ish seems the current going price.

im not sure where you live, but where i live i can buy a gun and shoot it.  If i dont like it for ANY reason, i can trade it, sell it, or give it away.  Again, not sure where you come from.  But thats how i see things. If it interests me and i can afford to buy it, i may do so and give i a spin. 

Ive done that for several of my toys i have including my CZs.  yes, some of my CZs have had issues and most of them not. But i will also say that i have not been burning ammo through all of my guns to find out if they are 100% functional/accurate.   I like to shoot for pleasure, so i shoot leisurely.  Not everyday or even once a month.  As a matter of fact, i didnt make it to the range 1 time this year.  Im spending more of my $$ on travel. 

im sure others will chime in since there are others that have the Sphinx.  Also, if you browse through the whole board, you will find there is a "clone" section.

[Walt Sherrill]

I've got a swiss-made Sphinx SDP and it's a fine gun. 

The most recent Swiss firm to own Sphinx  -- Kriss -- went out of business.  Going out of business seems to be a Sphinx tradition for every firm that has built Sphinx pistols (and there have been a few);  Kriss was a big company, and Kriss USA, which was owned by the Swiss parent company, moved the production equipment to the U.S.  That part of the business is alive and well.

One reason for the repeated failures of the many different companies that owned Sphinx over the years was their ongoing unwillingness to put out a less than superior weapon.   (Swiss guns have long been among the best production guns available.)

Prior to the Swiss firm's failure, Kriss/Sphinx did a redesign of the gun that made it more suitable for production using the latest technology and that has allowed them to lower production costs and be less dependent on tedious and costly hand fitting which has long been a trademark of the Sphinx guns. 

Prior to getting my SDP, I had two Sphinx 2000 guns, done the old way, and I can see no real difference in quality, and from what I've heard from those who have been able to compare the Swiss-made SDPs to the US-made SDPs there seems to be little or no difference  in fit, finish, quality, or performance.

The new Sphinx guns are still pricey guns, but so are CZs when upgraded to offer the same level of performance, fit, and finish.  And for the money, I think they are superior to the various SIG models in the same price range. 

Right now, a number of Kriss's long guns (like the Kriss Vector) seem to be much in demand, so Kriss, as any good business would, is focusing on consumer demand -- so the SDP line (including the sub-compact which a number of folks here are seeking) is getting less attention.

I'm just glad that the Sphinx line is still alive, if maybe hibernating a bit...

[briang2ad]

Folks:  For those non-veterans on this site, Walt likely has a few thousand posts and a WEALTH of knowledge on the CZ system.  He was out for a time, and we are glad he is BACK!

[rbuzz00]

I've had a Sphinx SDP Compact Duty for almost a year now, and IMO it's an excellent gun. I wasn't fortunate enough to get a Swiss made pistol, but from everything I've heard, they haven't lost any of the quality in it's change to an American made pistol.
Mine has been exceptional so far. It has digested every brand of ammo that I've put through it and I've had zero malfunctions to date. The Duty version has an aluminum grip and carries 17 rounds vs the Alpha which has the polymer grip and holds 15 rounds. The Duty has a slightly longer grip, but both are very nice.  Being made entirely of steel and aluminum, the Sphinx is a little bit on the heavy side so it may not be the best choice for concealed carry, but for a duty weapon or range weapon it excels.
It has one of the nicest stock triggers that I've seen, very similar to some of the better CZ's. Take up is a little long, but the trigger is extremely smooth. Probably the only complaint I have with mine, and it is minor, is that the trigger is more curved than I like. The Sphinx is also one of the most comfortable to shoot pistols out there.
I've seen several videos in which Kriss was showing more models to be brought out. Models like the full size Sphinx, the hard to find subcompact, and compact versions featuring ported barrels and aluminum grips similar to CZ competition guns, but so far I've not seen the proposed models.
To me it seems like for some reason Kriss is neglecting the Sphinx line which is a big mistake IMO. When I contacted Kriss to inquire why they didn't have more Sphinx offerings, they told me that the Vector has been more popular than expected and that for the time being they were concentrating more on it.  I've also heard rumors of some sort of law suit dealing with the old Sphinx company and the Swiss government which might be temporarily slowing down model introductions.
As far as aftermarket products, they are somewhat scarce, but I've seen more and more things like different sights than before. Magazines are readily available, although pricey. With grips, from what I've seen you're pretty much stuck with the factory style. They are a soft, kind of rubbery grip that is very comfortable but some say they can be a bit slippery when wet. I haven't had any problem. It seems that some CZ parts such as springs can be used in the Sphinx and either CZCustoms or CGW did at one time have some parts for them although I don't know if they still do or not. Kriss doesn't list replacement parts on their website, except for replacement grips.
Regardless, I would wholeheartedly recommend a new Sphinx. Like I said, I have the Duty model, but am considering the subcompact and one of the Alpha Wolf models soon.

[Bapple]

I have had Sigs and HK's in this same price range.  The Sphinx IMO is another level higher than either of those.  I have 2 and both have been 100% with FMJ's and HP's.  Quality of these firearms are second to none. 

The only thing I did to bothof mine was put it just a tad lighter hammer spring, makes the DA pull much nicer, and the SA pull is straight money anyway.

You will not be disappointed if you pick one up.

[twowheels]

I have a subcompact.  First the good--the build quality is absolutely stunning.  The machining is wonderful.  It feels great in the hand and it shoots beautifully.  The decocker function is the best of any decocker pistol I've handled and/or owned.  And, the right side decocker is excellent for left handed shooters like me.  I own several sigs and decocking with your trigger finger leaves something to be desired.  All in all, its a fabulous weapon and its build quality is among the finest of any of my firearms.

Now the bad--I had a very early Swiss one and it had problems going completely into battery.  The chamber was very tight.  After numerous emails, I finally got a response from Kriss and I sent it in and it came back running like a finely tuned sewing machine although none of the paperwork included with the pistol indicated what was done to the weapon.  It is hard to find parts for and it took a lot of searching before I found that R Grizzle would make me an IWB leather holster for it.  As I recall, mags were pretty expensive.

 I did put a spring kit in it and the trigger is very good, albeit not as good as a well tuned CZ.  It stacks a bit in DA.  I also had a front tritium sight made for it and put a single dot rear tritium sight on it.

Functionally, the sphinx are somewhat unique in having exceptional ambi decocker functionality, which is good for a left handed shooter.  I find the decocker functionality much better than the CZ ambi decocker equipped pistols, lik the P07 and P01 omega.  I put safeties on my P07 (which I gave to my son) and my P01 omega.

The subcompact is additionally unique from any CZ offering in its size.  All in all, I am glad to own my subcompact.